Oliver edward potter



No. 6|8,290. Patented lan. 247 |899. 0. E. POTTER.

G A T E (Application filed Sept. 7, 1897.)

(No Mudel.)

I gllgj IlNTTnn STATES.

PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER EDIVARD POTTER, OF CAMERON, MISSOURI.

GATE.v

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,290, dated January 24, 1899.

Application led September 7, 1897. Serial No. 650,774. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIvER EDWARD Por- TER, of Cameron, in the county of Clinton and State of Missouri, have invented a new and Improved Gate, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of gates which are provided with means for opening them from a distance and without dismounting from a horse orcarriage.

It consists of certain novel constructions, which will be particularly pointed out and claimed hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both iigures.

Figure l is a perspective view of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2 2 in Fig. l of the connecting-bar by which the two halves of the gate are made to swing together.

My invention consists of two parts or practically two gates pivoted each upon its own pivot and swinging toward each other, the inner ends adjusting and locking to each other.

Posts A and A are provided at each side of the gate and are suitably supported, so as to remain rmly in position. The bottoms of the posts are connected by a sill A3, through which the lower pivots o. of the gate pass. The upper pivots c are journaled in plates A4, attached lto the upper ends of the posts A A and projecting inward toward the gate. The lower pivots ct after passing through the sill A3 are bent to one side, forming the cranks c2. These cranks extend in the same direction when the gate is closed, which direction is lengthwise of the gate.

A bar C is pivoted to both of the cranks a2, said bar being beneath the sill A3. A guide C2 receives the central part of the bar C and permits its reciprocation therein. This guide is pivoted upon the pin C', which passes through the central portion of the sill. The bar C is thus pivoted in the guide C2 and is also free to reciprocate therein as may be needful. By reason of this connection between the two halves of the gate if power is applied to one half to swing it the other half will be swung in the same direction. In cases where it is undesirable to have the bar C beneath the sill said bar may be connected with the upper ends of the posts forming the ends of the gate. In such case, however, the posts should be carried high enough to clear any vehicle or load which itmay be desired to have pass through the gate.

One half of the gate is provided with a latch consisting of two plates D, pivoted at d, so as to swing in a vertical direction. These plates are preferably connected to each other by a cross-bar D2, located just outside the end of that half of the gate to which the latch is pivoted. Just beyond the outer end of this half of the gate the plates D are provided with a downwardly-extending tooth d3. The plates extend a short distance beyond this tooth and have their outer ends D' bent outwardly, thus forming a guide for receiving the edge of the other half of the gate. The other half ofthe gate is also provided on each side with a staple B', adapted to engage the tooth d3 upon the plate D. In lieu of the staple a pin or any other suitable projection may be used, the essential thing being that the gate shall have a projection upon each side adapted to engage the tooth upon the latch-plates.

The plates D are held down in locked position by means of a spring d', attached to the gate. The latches are raised to unlock the gate by means of a link d2, connecting the cross-bar D2 with a bell-crank lever e', mounted upon the top of the gate. This lever is connected, by means of a rod or cord e, with a pulley E, mounted upon the pivotpost of the gate.

To the upper end of the pivot-post of the gate is fixed a pulley E, which has a cord or other flexible band Gpassin g around it. This cord is fastened at each end to the bar F2, which is mounted to reciprocate in a notch or recess c3 in the upper end of the post A.

At a short distance each side of the post A' IOO . Operatin g the bell-crank lever.

intended for unlocking the gate and also for To the levers H is attached a cord or flexible band G', which passes over the guide-pulleys g and g',xnounted upon the posts A2, and passes about the upper pulley E. This pulley is not fixed to the pivot-post of the gate, but is mounted to turn thereon. An outward pull upon the lever H will cause the pulley E to be rotated, andthe connection of the cord or bar e thereto will cause the bellcrank lever e to be oseillated and the latch to be raised. This will release the two halves of the gate, so that they may be swung open. An upward lift or a downward pull upon the lever H will then cause the bell-crank lever F to be swung upon its pivot. This, through the connection described, will cause the pulley E', attached to one half of the gate, to turn upon its pivot, carrying with it that half of the gate. Through the connection of the bar C between the two halves of the gate the other half of the gate will be swung in the saine direction.

The direction of swinging of the gate will depend upon the operation of the bell-crank lever F. If said lever is elevated, the gate will be swung in one direction, while if it is depressed the gate will be swung inthe opposite direction. After the gate has been opened and the carriage has passed through the other lever H may be engaged to swing the gates together. The outer ends of the latch-plates D, being iiared outward, as shown and described, will act as a guide to cause the two halves of the gate to accurately close, so that the latch will engage to lock the two halves together. The use of a latch plate or bar upon each side of the gate holds it securely against pressure from either side, while a single latch upon one side would hold the gate securely only against pressure from one direction. Vith the construction shown one latch will be placed under tension from whichever direction pressure is applied to the gate.

The use of the two levers F and H, as described, permits the release of the latch before power is applied to the gate to swing it open. The cords passing about the pulleys E and E may be secured to the pulley at one point by means of a staple, if desired. This will prevent any slipping of the cord upon the pulley, and consequently promote the efficiency of the gate.

As the connection e is attached to the pulley E at the point which is nearest to the lever e when the gate is closed, the latch will be raised in whatever direction the pulley E is revolved.

The gate being capable of swinging in either direction, the heads of a team of horses may be driven close up to the gate before it is opened. The gate in such cases will be swung away from the horses. This makes it possible to place the posts A2 nearer to the gate than would otherwise be possible.

Having thus fully described my invention,

-I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A gate composed of twohalves mounted to swing ltoward and from each other, the pivots therefor having a crank-arm upon one end, alink connecting the cranks upon each half of the gate, and a pivotally-Iixed box receiving and guiding the middle of said link, substantially as described.

2. A gate composed of two halves, mounted t0 swing toward and from each other, the pivots therefor having a crank-arrn upon one end, a link connecting the cranks upon each half of the gate, a pivotally-xed box receiving and guiding the middle of said link, a pulley attached to the pivot of one half of the gate, a flexible band or cord surrounding the same and extending in opposite directions therefrom, and levers connected thereto to operate the same, substantially as described.

3. A gate composed of two halves pivoted to swing toward and from each other, connections therebetween for swinging them together, a pulley upon the pivot of one half, a cord or similar flexible band surrounding the pulley, a bar mounted to reciprocate adjacent to the pulley and having said cord attached to the ends thereof, and bell-crank levers attached to each end of said bar, subst-antially as described.

4. A gate composed of two halves pivoted to swing toward and from each other, connections therebetween for swinging them together, a pulley upon the pivot of one half, a cord or similar flexible band surrounding the pulley, a bar mounted to reciprocate adjacent to the pulley and having said cord attached to the ends thereof, bell-crank levers attached to each end of said bar, a latch securing the two halves to each other and a cord connecting the latch with the nearest point of the pulley when the gate is closed, substantially as described.

5. A gate pivoted to swing, a locking-latch, a pulley journaled on the gate, connections therefrom to the latch to raise it, a pulley fixed to the gate-pivot, a bell-crank lever pivotally mounted upon each side of the gate, a cord connecting said levers and passing about the fixed pulley, a lever pivoted to the outer end of each bell-crank lever, and a cord connecting said levers and passing about the latch-operating pulley, substantially as described.

OLIVER EDWARD POTTER.

Vitnesses:

ARA. D. DAvIs, JAMES E. GooDRIoH.

ICO

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